The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-11-03
THE OHIO PEN1THNT1ARY.
An Interesting Batch of News from that
Institution.

COLUMBUS, O., Oct. 3l.dSpecial.l !
Republicans as well as Democrats here
abouts, smile when they read "skit
cane FOTaker's speeches, and esuecially
that part of them when he praises the
management of the penitentiary "undel
my administration" They have cause
to, and especially during the past few
days. Last Sunday week while the
Matron and some of the female prison
ers were at Chapel, the remainder of the
prisoners left in the female department
were having high old time, in knock
ing one another down, pulling hair and
doing other little eccentricities that
weak female human nature is some
times subject to perform.
The next day in one of the shops OF
the Penitentiary, two of the prisoners
had "knOck down and drag out" al
under skin canes" management of the
Penitentiary.
That night "capped the climax" fol
Penitentiary management "under my
administration" While the prison
school was in session, Democratic
prisOner-w by the way, are very
scarce articles in that institution-in
the kindness of his heart and sympathy
for the present imbecile management
of that institution, "under my admins
tratiOn," went to one of the chief of
ficers and told him that four Of the
most desperate convicts in the prison
and one of them a pet "trusty"-had
about completed the arrangements fOr
all of the prisoners in the new hall of
the Penitentiary TO make their escape
that night-One of the leaders of the es-
Gaping party having manufactured d
key out of q piece Of gas-pipe, which
would unlock every cell in that part Of
the institution. Then there was a gen
eral mob of all the officers and guards
that were about the prison at that time
to the new hall. They were not any too
soon, because several of the cen doors
had been unlocked with the manufac-
tured key, and the prisoners in the new
hall were getting ready for a stampede
and an escape.
But then the attempted escape made
the officers and guards mad-very mad
and whyP "Skin cane" had issued
orders for every officer and guard about
the prison, who could possibly get
away, to go to Delaware the next day
as an escort for him, as he wanted to
make big spread at the home of the
Democratic candidate for Governor.
But for fear of an escape if they should
go, only two of the officers went to Del
aware, where "skin cane" opened that
mouth of his-the Steward and the
Clerk.
AS the Penitentiary could not under
the circumstances furnish much of an
escort to "skin cane," the State House
and other State institutions in and
about this city were drawn on heavily
for that purpose. 1t is said that at the
State House that day no officer or clerk
could be found in any of the Offices
held by Republicans, porters and mes
sengers being the only persons who
could be found about the offices.
But then talking about the manage
ment of the Penitentiary "under my
administration" reminds your CORE
spondent that during the latter part of
last week he met a Republican con
tractor in that institution. Your cor
respondents asked the contractor if there
had been much of a contest among the
contractors for the services OF the two
young men that Judge Pugh, of this
county, had given the long sentences
to. His reply was -"that now, under
the present management, there was
more of a contest to get short term
men by the contractors than there was
to get long term men," "How is that ?"
inquired your correspondent The con-
tractors reply was "When prisoner
is now brought to the Penitentiary for
five, six, seven, ten, fifteen, twenty or
twenty-five years, if he has money or
friends he will get parole after he has
served ten, twelve or fourteen months" !"
"Why can long term prisoners get their
paroles so easy?' inquired your CORE
spOndent of the contractor. Because"
said the contractor, "the board of man
agement-not including Mr.. Round,
who opposes all paroles, but he is only
avery small minority cannot refuse
to grant parole to any prisoner who
asks for one, after the President of the
Board and Smead, of Toledo another
member, went to such extra and spec
ial trouble to get long term prisoner
paroled for the special benefit Of Mr..
Smead, who offered to give him employ
ment, and now has him in his employ.
They are afraid that if they refuse to
parole. other long termers they might
be told about paroling long termer
for Mr.. Smead's particular use.
ENPTYl EMPTYl!
The general revenue fund opened to
pay the general and ordinary expenses
of the State in the State Treasury of
Ohio, is about all used up, or so near so
that there is but very little, if any, left
in the State Treasury, notwithstanding
"skin canes boast Of the superior
management of the State finances,
under my administration" Even the
Democratic State Auditor, who has
kept the State Treasury from becoming
on several occasions during
"skin cane" Foraker's administration,
by drawing from the different county
treasures of Ohio, during the months
of June and December, can not do so
now, because there is no money in